Dr. Elsa T. Khwaja has over 15 years of professional and academic experience in global affairs.
Research specializations: foreign policy, international development, aid-effectiveness, human rights, human security, failed/fragile states, post-conflict reconstruction, social capital, and gender studies.
Regional interests/specializations include South Asia (Afghanistan and Pakistan) and the Middle East and North Africa.
Language skills (various proficiencies):
- English (Native), Urdu, Hindi, Arabic and Spanish.
Academic skills:
- Policy Analysis & Analytical Writing: Policy briefs, analytical reports, and peer-reviewed publications.
- Research Design & Literature Synthesis: Comprehensive systematic literature reviews, conceptual frameworks for interdisciplinary studies.
- Advanced Research Methods:
- Qualitative: Ethnographic fieldwork; elite, community-based, cross-cultural and multi-lingual interviewing; focus groups; survey development; thematic coding; archival/content analysis; reflexive journaling; storytelling and participatory methods.
- Quantitative & Mixed Methods: Social network analysis, survey design, statistical modeling, and mixed-method integration.
- Data Analysis, Visualization, & Statistical Software: Proficient in R, NVivo, Gephi, UCInet, Netdraw, STATA, ArcGIS, SPSS, Python, ATLAS.ti.
Professional & Administrative Skills:
- Project Management: Coordinating multi-country research projects, including operations, logistics, and stakeholder engagement.
- Grant Writing & Proposal Development: Federal and private foundation grants; new business and academic research funding proposals.
- Fundraising & Stakeholder Collaboration: Organizing donor campaigns, events, and partnerships for academic and community initiatives.
- Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Advocacy: Leading initiatives to enhance inclusive practices in academic and organizational contexts.
- Digital & Public Scholarship: Blogging, online content creation, and digital strategy to amplify research and advocacy.
You may find more information on Dr. Khwaja’s professional and academic experiences in her LinkedIn Profile.
Certificates
Institute of Qualitative and Multi-Method Research (IQMR). Certificate Completion on Qualitative Methods Training. The Maxwell School, Syracuse University. June 16-June 29, 2019.
External Awards
World Politics and Statecraft Fellowship. Smith Richardson Foundation. Dissertation Fieldwork in Pakistan. Term: 2018 – 2019. Awarded: $7,500.
Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grant. National Science Foundation, Sociology Department. (Revise and Resubmit, Finalist, Not Awarded). 2018. Not Awarded: $12,000.
Fred C. Bruhn’s Scholarship, Nationality Rooms Cultural Diversity Programs, University of Pittsburgh, Masters Fieldwork, Capstone on Violence Against Women in Pakistan; Karachi, Pakistan, Summer 2008. Awarded: $2,500.
Asian Development Bank (ADB) Travel Grant for IPPA International Conference. National University of Singapore. ADB, Governance Thematic Group, June 2017: $2400.
National Science Foundation Travel Fellowship for APSA Political Networks Conference and Workshops. Poster Presentation and Workshop Participation. Columbus, Ohio. June 2017: $900.
National Science Foundation Travel Fellowship for APSA Political Networks Conference. Durham, NC. May 2019: $900.
Internal Awards
Nominated for Schar School Joseph L. Fisher Award for Outstanding Dissertation, 2022
Schar School Daniel Druckman Fellowship on International Conflict Resolution. Fall 2020 Term: $4000.
Schar School Research Grant for Dissertation Field Interview Transcriptions. May 2019: $1100.
George Mason University Graduate Education Provost Fellowship. Summer 2018: $7000.
Schar School PhD Graduate Fellowship. 2018 – 2019: $4000.
Schar School Research Travel Grant for Preliminary Dissertation Fieldwork in Karachi, Islamabad, Peshawar, Lahore, Pakistan. Dec 2017 – Feb 2018: $1000.
Schar School Research Grant for APPAM International Conference. Panel Presentation.
London School of Economics, London, UK. June 2016: $900.
Schar School Research Grant for APPAM Fall Research Conference. Poster. Miami, FL. Nov 2015: $750.
Selected Leadership Honors
National Youth Leadership Forum on Defense, Intelligence, and Diplomacy. Washington, DC. Feb 19-24, 2002. Selected as one of four winners of an essay contest for Wreath Laying at Arlington National Cemetery, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: INITIATIVES, PROJECTS, AND FUNDRAISERS
Painting Heals, Founder, 2023–present
Arts, education, and philanthropy initiative leveraging arts-based research methods and entrepreneurship to raise funds for climate relief and humanitarian work in Pakistan and other fragile states. Integrates creativity, mental health advocacy, and education to advance equity, global solidarity, and inclusive impact.
Rise Beyond the Margins: Empowering Inclusive Scholarship, 2025–present
Community-Powered Research Campaign. Link HERE.
Designed and launched a crowdfunding campaign to support participation in APSA Annual Meeting (2025) and advance inclusive, independent scholarship. Raised approximately $3000. Integrated with the Painting Heals initiative and supported by public storytelling, digital outreach, and creative advocacy.
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Fundraising, Washington, DC, 2015–present
Organize, volunteer, and lead annual fundraising and awareness campaigns. Successfully raised over $3,000 during Annual DC Community Walks for Suicide Prevention, advocating for suicide prevention in public policy and inclusion of mental health in DEI initiatives.
United Nations Relief and Works Agency, USA, Fundraising, DC, 2015-present
Outreach, community engagement, and fundraising with the Gaza 5K for refugee mental health, education, and rehabilitation services, supporting youth resilience and trauma recovery in conflict-affected communities.
